Sanitary pad



Sept. 16, 1958 MARGUERITE M. KAROWSKI 2,852,026

NOW BY CHANGE OF NAME MARGUERITE M. KARR SANITARY PAD Filed Nov. 22, 1954 United States Patent 2,852,026 SANITARY PAD Marguerite M. Karowski, Skokie, 111., now by change of name Marguerite M. Karr Application November 22, 1954, Serial No. 470,312

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-290) This invention relates to sanitary absorbent pads for feminine hygiene.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a bandage which will protect the wearers clothing, bedding, and the like from soiling by catamenial discharge, and other types of discharge resulting from vaginal or rectal disorders.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sanitary pad for absorption of unusually great vaginal and anal discharge, or an unusually large amount of catamenia which may occur while one is asleep or reclining in a horizontal or semi-horizontal position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sanitary pad which will provide protection well beyond both terminals of the perineum and will provide such support as will assure the wearer at all times of safety from soiling of underclothing, linens and the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after understanding the following description of the invention read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

When the body is in an upright position. normal catamenia and rectal discharges flow naturally downwardly and may be adequately absorbed by conventional catamenial bandages. However, in the event of unusually great discharge, and particularly such as may occur when a woman is reclining in a horizontal or semihorizontal position the discharge flows backward through the gluteal folds and along the perineum which are not protected by the conventional pad.

It is likewise true that when one is lying or reclining on her side or stomach catamenia frequently does escape from the sides of conventional sanitary pads and soil the lower urinogenital area or the buttocks outside the area of protection and hence soil any clothing or linen in contact therewith.

The present invention is designed to overcome these objections and to achieve the objects above stated. Actual use of sanitary pads of the present invention have been completely successful in this effort.

An efficacious embodiment of the invention is illus trated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the sanitary pad, covered with gauze with end portions of the gauze unfolded outwardly for clearer illustrative purposes.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pad taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the central portion of the pad taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the absorbent base of the pad before folding.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the absorbent base illustrating the method of folding the central portion.

Fig. 6 is an illustrative view, partly in section, show- Patented Sept. 16, 195

ing the location of the sanitary pad, in use, relative to portions of the female body.

The pad in its complete form includes a base 10 of absorbent cotton, or the like, cut and folded in the manner illustrated and covered with a loose mesh surgical gauze 12.

As shown in Fig. 4, the absorbent cotton base 10 is generally oblong in shape and is cut partially across in preferably arc paths at 14, 16, 18 and 20. The pad portion lying between the cuts 20 and 18 is then folded over the central portion of the pad body, as shown in. Fig. 5 and the portion of the pad between the cuts 14 and 16 is then likewise folded over as shown in Fig. 5, preferably overlapping slightly the fold from the opposite side of the pad. This overlapping fold 22 will form the inner face of the sanitary pad before the gauze 12 is applied.

Surgical gauze or similar material isthen used to cover the folded pad 10, as particularly shown in Fig. 1. The gauze is preferably wound around the central portion 22 of the pad so as to present a continuous gauze face 24 which will contact and cover the perineum and slightly beyond at each end. It will be noted that the cuts 14, 16, 18 and 20 are curvilinear so as to present rounded sides 26, 28, 30 and 32 which serve to prevent and minimize roping of the central portion 24 and to prevent chafing.

Surgical gauze or the like is likewise folded around the pad end portions 34 and 36 and preferably so as to result in triangular portions 38 and 40 of gauze only at either end of the bandage which may be folded over upon the body of the pad if desired.

Cross-sections of the pad shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 illustrate the preferred relationship of the gauze covering and the absorbent pad at the points indicated.

While the foregoing will completely describe the structure of this invention its location in use is further illustrated in Fig. 6.

As there shown the triangular portions 38 and 40 are extended rather than folded upon the pad body. When unfolded such triangular portions 38 and 40 afford convenient means for fastening to a belt or other support. However it will be understood that the sanitary pad may likewise be retained in place with the portions 38 and 40 folded over the pad.

It will be seen from Fig. 6 that the central portion having the gauze face 24 will cover fully the perineum and the portions 34 and 36 will cover and extend beyond and laterally of the pubic and anal regions respectively.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention meets the objects above stated and correct the defects in conventional sanitary pads to which reference has been made.

While it may appear that the present invention is somewhat bulky the fact is that it is not uncomfortably so and on the contrary gives to the wearer a sense of support and security that is very satisfactory, without interfering an any way with normal movement of the legs and body.

It will be apparent that the preferred embodiment which I have described may be varied widely in details Without departure from the essence of my invention. I desire therefore to be limited in my invention only as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sanitary pad for feminine hygiene comprising a base of absorbent cotton, covered with surgical gauze, said base being cut at each side adjacent but spaced from each end more than one-quarter of the way into said base, the portion between said cuts on each side being folded over to form a pad of double thickness and a central longitudinal area therethrough of triple thickmess to cover the perineum of a femal body, and said pad including wider portions of single thickness beyond and at either end of the perineum covering to extend over and beyond the genitalia and anal portions respec tively of a female body.

2. A sanitary pad for feminine hygiene including an absorbent pad of substantially rectangular shape,- oppositely matching curvilinear cuts in" said paid at either side thereof extending more than one-quarter of the way and less than one-third of the way into said pad, said portions between saidcuts on each side of said pad being folded over and under one another to-form an absorbent central portion of double thickness and a longitudinally central area therein of triple thickness, the end portions of said pad beyond said cuts being-of single thickness and having curved anti-chafing edges adjacent said central portion, and being of such length and width as to extend substantially beyond and laterally of the pubic and anai regions of the female body.

3. A' sanitary pad for feminine hygiene inciudinganabsorbent pad of substantially rectangular shape, oppositely matching curvilinear cuts in said pad at either side thereof, said portions between said cuts on eachside' of said pad being folded over and under one another to form an absorbent central portion of double thickness a'rida longitudinally central area therein of'tri'ple'thi'ckness, the end portions of said pad beyond said cuts being of single thickness and having curved anti-chafing edges adjacent said central portion, and being of such. length" and width as to extend substantially beyond and laterally of the pubic and anal regions of the female body, said pad having an outer covering of surgical gauze, end portions of which extend beyond the ends of said pad to cover the lower abdominal and central buttocks crevice regions respectively to provide supporting and fastening portions for attachment to body encircling supporting means.

4. A sanitary pad for feminine hygiene including an absorbent pad of substantially rectangular shape, oppositely matching curvilinear cuts in said pad at either side thereof adjacent but spaced from each. end and extending more than one-quarter and less than one-third of the way into said pad, said portions between said cuts on each side of said pad being folded over and under one another to form end" portions of single thickness and a central portion having edge areas of double thickness and a central area oftriple thickness longer than said edge areas and an outer covering for said pad of surgical gauze extending beyond the end portions of said pad;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,490,303 Woody Apr. 15, 1924 1,694,161 Budwig et al. Dec. 4', 1928 1,914,596 Diehl June-20, 1933 2,122,417 Fridolph July 5, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 846,894 Germany Aug. 18, 1952 

